Islamabad, Pakistan —Partners in Population and Development (PPD) in collaboration with Ministry of Population Welfare, Pakistan jointly organized a one day workshop on “South-South Cooperation and Sustainable Development” on 5th September 2006 in Hotel Margala, Islamabad, Pakistan. The workshop was graced by Federal Minister for Population Welfare and Honorable Member of PPD Board H.E. Ch. Shahbaz Hussain, Executive Director of PPD Mr. Sangeet Harry Jooseery, Parliamentary Secretary Dr. Doniya Aziz and many high officials from Government and International Organization. The workshop started at 9:00 am with a welcome speech by Dr. Doniya Aziz. In her speech she said that PPD has a unique mandate, which is cemented in the ICPD Programme of Action, adding that governments and NGOs in the member countries are best able to address their own domestic challenges locally. H.E. Ch. Shahbaz Hussain in his Key Note address stated that the main objective of the workshop was to generate greater understanding at national level on how South-South Collaboration can effectively contribute towards attainment of sustainable development.

Federal Minister for Population Welfare and Honorable Member of PPD Board H.E. Ch. Shahbaz Hussain presenting his Key Note speech.

Mr. Sangeet Harry Jooseery in his speech stated “I am impressed by the initiatives and directives adopted by the Pakistan government in dealing with the population issues and to reduce the population growth rate by 1.3 by 2020”. He said that China through PPD will donate 190,000 sets of IUDs to Pakistan. He also committed to provide a one-year scholarship for the year 2007 to a Pakistani professional who desires to pursue advanced study in demography at Cairo Demographic Center.